Over the past several days, the streets of Los Angeles have turned into a chaotic war zone, though not with tanks or missiles. Instead, masked agitators, looted storefronts, and burning cars have replaced the usual West Coast calm, as riots erupt in what officials say is a coordinated, politically-charged operation with both foreign and ideological influences in the mix.
At the center of it all: a crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), radical protest organizers, and evidence pointing to ties between the rioters and pro-Communist networks. As FinalWar host Katherine Hu notes: “There’s organization, there’s premeditation, and there’s deliberate planning.”
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How the violence erupted
The unrest began last week after ICE agents arrested approximately 100 illegal immigrants across multiple Los Angeles neighborhoods — including five gang members. By Friday, June 6, crowds of masked protesters had descended on an ICE facility, smashing windows, clashing with officers, and prompting police to deploy tear gas and rubber bullets.
Things only escalated. The next day, rioters lit taxis on fire, shut down the 101 Freeway, and looted businesses in downtown Los Angeles. A violent clash near Paramount City left a federal agent injured and several attackers in custody. Protesters reportedly gathered outside a Home Depot — a well-known day labor hub—where ICE was actively targeting undocumented workers. Witnesses saw vehicles handing out wooden planks and shields, confirming that the violence was not spontaneous, but carefully planned.
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In one viral video, a man in a helmet is seen smashing an officer’s car with rocks. The FBI has since issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Leaders missing, Trump responds
As the situation spiraled out of control, California Governor Gavin Newsom remained largely absent, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass drew criticism for publicly siding with the protesters. On June 7, U.S. President Donald Trump stepped in, announcing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the city. He also called for the arrest of masked rioters and proposed a nationwide ban on face coverings during protests.
Observers soon noticed a striking feature of the riots: many demonstrators waved Mexican flags, with hardly any American flags in sight. In one viral photo, a masked protester was seen standing atop a charred Waymo self-driving car — valued at over $600,000 — waving a Mexican flag. According to law enforcement, rioters had ordered Waymo rides to lure the vehicles into protest zones and torch them.
Even more disturbing was a clip showing a protester waving the same flag while wearing a Hamas armband. “Is this Gaza or Los Angeles?” one user wrote.
Meanwhile, far-left groups like Antifa began appearing on the scene, according to frontline reporters and activists. Their presence marked a shift from early, spontaneous demonstrators to a more radical, organized bloc intent on escalating the conflict.
The organizations behind the curtain
As investigations deepened, two organizations emerged as key players: CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles) and the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL).
According to a June 8 report by the New York Post, CHIRLA helped organize the original protest that triggered the riots. Financial disclosures revealed CHIRLA received nearly $34 million in federal grants in the year ending June 2023 — triple the previous year’s amount. Ironically, about $450,000 came from the Department of Homeland Security, the same agency they were now protesting. DHS ended its partnership with CHIRLA in March 2025.
Then there’s the PSL, a self-described communist party whose signs were spotted at multiple protest sites. The PSL shares financial and ideological overlap with the ANSWER Coalition, and both receive major backing from Neville Singham, a tech entrepreneur and longtime pro-CCP activist.
Neville Singham’s influence
Singham is the founder of Thoughtworks, a Chicago-based software consulting firm. He spends much of his time in Shanghai and is known for funding Maku Cultural Communication Co., Ltd., whose motto is “Always follow the Party.” He also bankrolls Dongsheng News, a propaganda outlet named after Xi Jinping’s phrase “the East is rising.”
A 2024 report from Rutgers’ Network Contagion Research Institute revealed that Singham and his wife, Jodie Evans — co-founder of radical group Code Pink — have funneled millions of dollars into spreading pro-CCP narratives across the globe. The New York Times confirmed that Singham’s network funded ideological operations from South Africa to Brazil.
In D.C., Singham is no stranger. In August 2023, Senator Marco Rubio sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, demanding an investigation into Singham’s financial web under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The alarm isn’t unfounded. In May, a gunman named Rodriguez, linked to PSL, shot two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C. He was reportedly driven by anti-American and pro-CCP ideology.
From biological threats to cultural war
This week’s riots aren’t occurring in isolation. They follow recent arrests of two Chinese nationals — Jian Yunqing and Han Cheng Xuan — accused of smuggling agricultural pathogens and biological materials into U.S. labs, both linked to the University of Michigan. Authorities fear these cases may be part of a broader Chinese effort to target America’s food supply and research infrastructure.
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This concern is amplified by China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law, which requires all Chinese citizens and organizations to “support, assist, and cooperate with the country’s intelligence work.” That includes the roughly 280,000 Chinese students currently studying in the U.S.
Economic espionage is another front in what Hu calls the CCP’s “unrestricted warfare.” Chinese-manufactured solar panels have been found to contain hidden communications devices capable of relaying data or receiving external commands — potentially compromising the power grid. Investigations have revealed similar concerns with Chinese cranes at U.S. ports, which may be covertly tracking cargo flows and logistics.
Cultural warfare
The CCP’s efforts don’t stop with infrastructure. Groups like New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, which showcase traditional Chinese culture while exposing human rights abuses, have faced a campaign of media attacks and disinformation. Since August 2024, The New York Times has published a number of smear stories, allegedly backed by CCP influence and sourced from a handful of disaffected ex-performers.
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As Hu explained in her closing: “From the Los Angeles riots, to Michigan labs, to port cranes and media wars, it’s all part of a coordinated infiltration. We must see clearly and speak out boldly—to protect our freedom of speech and cultural rights.”
The events in Los Angeles serve as a stark warning: the ideological, economic, and cultural battles unfolding in America today are no longer abstract. Whether through riots, lab smuggling, or port surveillance, the CCP and its allies appear to be testing every crack in the foundation of American society.
“Only by understanding and exposing these hidden battles can we secure the future of our families and communities,” says Hu.
To see the original video, please visit the Final War’s YouTube channel here.
